There’s a new kind of spy story hitting your screen this week, and it’s a far cry from the tuxedo-clad secret agents of Hollywood lore. Checkout, a dark comedy thriller that spent over a decade in development and earned its stripes at the Sundance Institute, is now available for streaming and digital purchase across North America as of October 16, 2026.
Freestyle Digital Media, the digital distribution arm of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has officially released the film on digital HD internet, DVD, cable, and satellite platforms. The movie arrives on the heels of a theatrical run that concluded with notable attention, including a New York Times feature that positioned the film as a satirical counterpoint to the NAZA documentary, using humor to confront heavy subjects like terrorism and targeted killings.
At the center of the film is Josh Pais, the veteran character actor known for roles in Joker, Dropout, Ray Donovan, and The Good Wife. Pais didn’t just show up to play a spy—he underwent genuine espionage and combat training to prepare for the part. He’s joined by a cast of prominent Israeli performers, including Norman Issa, Dar Zuzovsky, Aki Avni, Yael Sharoni, and Oz Zehavi, creating a story that explores the friction between American and Israeli perspectives.
The project traces its origins to the Sundance Institute Screenwriter’s Lab, and marks the feature debut of Jonathan Dekel, an Israeli Academy Award winner who drew on his own service in the Israeli Special Forces and conducted extensive interviews with actual Mossad operatives. Rather than presenting spies as suave action heroes, the film zeroes in on their anxieties, the tedium of bureaucracy, and the constant dread of failure.
The plot centers on Dov, played by Pais, a low-level American Jewish spy who finds himself grilled by skeptical Israeli superiors after a mission goes sideways. Forced to recount the events of his explosive final assignment repeatedly, Dov’s story shifts with each telling—memories blur, alternative facts emerge, and competing versions of the truth collide in what critics are calling a psychedelic dark comedy tailor-made for the post-truth era.
Critical reception has been strong. The Hollywood Reporter called the film “a Wes Anderson-ish espionage romp,” while The Jerusalem Post compared it to “an early Woody Allen movie crossed with the best spy spoofs.”
“It took 12 years to make CHECKOUT because we wanted to make the anti-James Bond movie,” said Dekel, who co-wrote the script with Shai Satran. “The Mossad’s elite trusted us with the unglamorous truth – real spies don’t ask for stirred martinis, they ask for receipts. Getting reimbursed is just as important to them as the mission itself. And sometimes so is their ego. That’s what CHECKOUT reveals.”
Freestyle Digital Media secured the rights to the film through a direct negotiation with its creators.
For those interested in learning more, the film’s official page is available at https://www.freestyledigitalmedia.tv/film/checkout/.
ABOUT FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA
Freestyle Digital Media, the digital distribution unit of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, is one of the largest all-rights independent film distributors in the world. The company specializes in VOD and streaming distribution, film acquisition, and direct partnerships across all major cable, satellite, digital, and streaming platforms. With a veteran sales team and robust infrastructure, Freestyle Digital Media is a premier destination for independent filmmakers seeking multiplatform theatrical, VOD, and streaming distribution. Recent releases include UP THE CATALOGUE featuring Jonathan Bailey, ALLSWELL IN NEW YORK starring Emmy Award-winning Liza Colón-Zayas of FX’s THE BEAR, DIARIO, MUJER & CAFÉ starring Roselyn Sánchez in her directorial debut, and CHARLIEBIRD, winner of the Founders Award at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. Additional titles in the Freestyle library include SURVIVE starring Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins, DEAR ZOE starring Sadie Sink of STRANGER THINGS, and BEST SUMMER EVER, produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Steenburgen, and Ted Danson. For more information visit: freestyledigitalmedia.tv
Eric Peterkofsky / Sarah Madden
Allen Media Group/Freestyle Digital Media
Eric@es.tv / Sarah.Madden@es.tv
Official FDM Trailer – CHECKOUT (2026)
Why it matters: In an era where audiences are increasingly skeptical of glossy, action-heavy spy narratives, Checkout offers a grounded alternative that flips the genre on its head—one rooted in real-world intelligence work and the messier human realities behind covert operations. Its journey from Sundance development to wide VOD availability also underscores the growing pathway for independent, internationally-flavored films to reach mainstream audiences without traditional theatrical backing.
